Diving. It’s something the two of us have talked about doing from the moment we moved to Australia, almost 6 years ago. As a birthday gift, Brad signed me up to get my certification on my own in Tasmania. OF COURSE I was excited but I was also feeling anxious. If I’m going to be honest, deep waters have always kind of intimidated me. It’s a fear that I can push aside even if it still lingers below the surface (pun intended).

Tasmania however, was the last place I would’ve thought I’d learn to dive. I had more of a vision of being in tropical warm waters, near a coral reef, surrounded by a ridiculous amount of fish.

The water in Tasmania is cold, which means a 7mm wet suit is your go to option. It feels pretty heavy duty when you’ve got it on. Much like the little brother from A Christmas Story, all bundled up in his snow gear. From socks and boots to hoods and gloves. These wet suits did a pretty darn good job at keeping you warm. But for the love of god are they ever a challeng to pull all the way up! Especially when you need to take a pee break after already being in the water.

They say you never forget your first breath underwater and I have to agree. It certainly wasn’t what I was expecting and I wasn’t comfortable. I kept wanting to spit out the regulator and take a natural, normal breath above the surface of the water like we humans are meant to do.

Heading out to open water for the first time, was one of my most memorable moments throughout the course. As I started descending with my group, it wasn’t long before I panicked and resurfaced. I can’t pinpoint exactly what made me go back up. Perhaps I wasn’t ready for that confining feeling. All that gear, wet suit pieces and hood and the sheer weight of the water. But as uncomfortable as I felt, I wasn’t ready to call it a day. So, at the surface I calmed myself with a few good deep breaths and began my descent for a second time. Slower, focusing on taking those slow, deep breaths.

I must admit in the beginning, I wasn’t really sure if diving was going to be for me. I didn’t take to diving like a fish. During my first open water dive, I also lost control of my buoyancy and sky rocketed to the top not thinking fast enough how to stop myself. The mask exercise was extremely unpleasant. And it took me extra pool time with my very patient instructor to get more comfortable with it. Reading the material vs applying things in the water is very different.

But by the time I got back out there on my last open water dive, I could really start to see what all the hubbub was about. I was finally able to take slower, deeper breaths which meant my tank was going to last longer. And the concepts of controlling my buoyancy really sank in. Besides, there are so many beautiful and intriguing things that lie beneath the surface and I was more than ready to see them.

Diving isn’t for everyone and that’s okay. You spend a lot of time in your own head and you need to be okay with that. You need to be good at controlling your own anxieties and not letting panic get the best of you.

But if you’re able to overcome the fears and anxieties that hold you back from the experience, it’s a pretty amazing thing. I’ll never forget my dive instructors stamp. An image of the world surrounded by the words “water 70% land 30%”. That feels like a pretty epic place to start exploring. Just remember, don’t forget to breath.

Are you thinking about travelling Australia? Maybe you want to head out on a weekend getaway or take a short trip up the coast. Or maybe, you’re even planning a big lap adventure around the country. But there’s one daunting question sitting in the…

As defined by Wikipedia, paragliding “is to pilot a lightweight, free-flying, foot-launched glider aircraft with no rigid primary structure. The pilot sits in a harness suspended below a fabric wing”. Agnes and I had little more than this definition on hand to prepare us…

If you’ve never visited Copeton Waters, grab your dog, pack your car right now and hit the road! This is an easy area to fall in love with. Vast rolling hills and rocky shorelines hold a sort of Northern Ontario in the summer element…

Lake Keepit, a pet friendly destination found smack dab between Tamworth and Gunnedah. If you’re travelling to the lake from the eastern coast, there’s a dramatic change in the landscape. After crossing the Great Dividing Range, thick green and daunting mountains quickly turn into…

About a two-hour drive north of Cessnock you will find the State Park, Lake Glenbawn managed by Inland Waters Holiday Parks. Lake Glenbawn is home to one of Australia’s largest dams, built on the Hunter River providing Scone and Muswellbrook with hydropower and irrigation.…

Next time you’re trying to come up with a weekend away, rather than finding someone to mind your dog, why not take them with you? Only an hour and a half from Sydney, the Hunter Valley offers a great retreat for people looking to…

I’ll be honest, we only stayed in the Central Coast for two nights. After finally packing up and leaving Sydney, we didn’t want to have to travel too far with the caravan. Especially since it would be the first time for us towing all…

This is a guest post by CaravanRVCamping.com.au The setting of the sun has been romanticised by great poets, artists, and writers since the beginning of the time. There’s something universally captivating about long, muted stretches of skyline colour and our bright daily light being…

Tucked away in the Daintree Rainforest near Cape Tribulation hides one of the best hikes for any adventure seeker. The trail takes about 5-6 hours to complete, surrounding you with nothing but raw tropical beauty all the way up to 680m where the lookout lives. If…

About Us

Hey there! We're Agnes, Brad and Sarge. Currently travelling and working our way around Australia in our 1975 Viscount Caravan. Passionate about finding beautiful places and pet friendly spaces. If you're new to our site, you can learn more about us over here!